Current Activities of Canadian Bhutanese Association (CABTAS), Ottawa

1. Nepali language non-credit course is taking place every Sunday at 2540 Kaladar Avenue, Ottawa. The students are enrolled for the course from age groups 4 to 13. There are 3 regular teachers and substitute teachers working under the Catholic Education Board, Ottawa. Besides, students interested to work as volunteer teachers are encouraged to work at schools. Such volunteers are given credit hours to help them fulfil 40 hours of volunteer hours to graduate at High Schools.

2. Nepali language credit course is taking place every Saturday at 623 Smyth Road, Ottawa. Currently, a total of 22 students are enrolled under Catholic Education Board, Ottawa, with one regular teacher working under this board. The students are taught basically from the Nepali course curriculum developed and printed in the form of text books by the joint effort of MS. Tara Upreti and Mr. Surendra Upreti.

3. English Language conversation classes and yoga classes for Bhutanese Nepali seniors are taking places at different locations in Ottawa. Catholic Center for Immigrants (CCI) is involved for English conversation classes on Mondays; Yoga classes are conducted on Wednesdays by Tara Upreti; Activity-based conversation classes are taking place on Thursdays (afternoons) by Lydia from South -East Ottawa Community Health Center (SEOCHC); and similarly English learning and conversation classes are held in 1800 Bank Street under OCISO on Thursdays (Mornings) and Fridays.

4. CABTAS members are actively helping the community people to meet their various day to day needs such as reading official documents, filling and submitting forms for PR card renewals, Canadian Citizenship application forms, filling up lease application documents, making resumes and cover letters etc.

5. Let’s Dance program has started from January 12, 2019 for Nepali speaking children from age 6 and above. The outcome of the previous year dance classes was very satisfactory and encouraging. Let’s dance performed an annual cultural program in June 2018 and also participated in a program organized by South Asia Festival in Ottawa. The annual cultural program for 2019 shall be held in June 2019 in Ottawa, under the active coordination and participation of Let’s Dance Group.

6. CABTAS has a strong and enthusiastic Soccer team to represent the association in soccer tournaments outside Ottawa with a team name “O-Boys”. O-Boys participated in “The Dashain Cup 2018” organized by Guelph FC and Guelph Bhutanese Committee held in Guelph, Ontario , on September 22, 2018. CABTAS sponsored 50% of the team fee for the tournament this year.

A short report of the tournament received from the team leader, Mr. Sudesh Gurung is as follows:

The Dashian cup 2018 was organized by Guelph FC and Guelph Bhutanese Committee held in Guelph, ON, on Saturday September 22, 2018. The tournament consisted of 13 participating teams from various cities from Canada and the US. The leading football team in Ottawa: United FC and Alpha Warrior formed a team to participate in the tournament. The team was names ‘O-Boys’ and represented Canadian Bhutanese Association, Ottawa (CABTAS). The CABTAS also supported some financial assistance to the team to participate in the tournament.

The team was led by Sudesh Gurung and coached by Suresh Rai. Even though, O-Boys did not have a positive winning result, the team represented CABTAS and showed a very positive team spirit.

The team “O-Boys” represents the following players from United FC and Alpha Warrior as shown in the pictures below:

7. CABTAS conducted citizenship class to the first batch of Canadian Citizenship applicant successfully. The participants were basically given classes from the study guide, “Discover Canada” by verbally translating every chapter from English to Nepali language giving special elucidation to difficult political terminologies. Regular tests were conducted strictly based on the Canadian Citizenship test pattern. A picture of the first batch of candidates for citizenship class with observers is shown below:

Future Goals

1. CABTAS plans to give continuity to Canadian Citizenship Preparation Classes for interested candidates in Nepali language. Besides, the students are made access to some reliable websites online for better preparation for the exam.

2. CABTAS plans to set up a small office with some basic office equipment to make easy accessibility for the Bhutanese Nepali Community Members for basic information and support.

3. CABTAS plans to give preliminary classes in Nepali language to community people interested to give G1 Driving tests and help get access to Driving centers for basic classes and road tests.

4. CABTAS plans to give special English Grammar classes to those students who have had a very weak foundation in English grammar at their previous schools especially in Nepal and French speaking regions in Canada.

5. CABTAS plans to introduce a small library for readers, stocking books mostly of Bhutan with a view to understand more on Bhutan history, country, government, cultures and so on. This library and a small office can open an information desk to tourists and visitors to Bhutan and also help younger generations to remember the country of their origins.